Herodotus - The Histories.pdf

92 V Herodotus
nation itself, were alike unknown whence the
enemy had come even, was a marvel. Imagining,
however, that they were all men of about the same
age, they went out against them, and fought a battle.
Some of the bodies of the slain fell into their
hands, whereby they discovered the truth.
Hereupon they deliberated, and made a resolve to
kill no more of them, but to send against them a
detachment of their youngest men, as near as they
could guess equal to the women in number, with
orders to encamp in their neighbourhood, and do
as they saw them do- when the Amazons
advanced against them, they were to retire, and
avoid a fight- when they halted, the young men
were to approach and pitch their camp near the
camp of the enemy. All this they did on account of
their strong desire to obtain children from so
notable a race.
So the youths departed, and obeyed the orders
which had been given them. The Amazons soon
found out that they had not come to do them any
harm; and so they on their part ceased to offer the
Scythians any molestation. And now day after